Children of Bodom – Halo of Blood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCztVAF_f0k

It wasn’t that long ago that Children of Bodom were one of the next big things in heavy metal.  They perfected a melodic death metal sound that was winning them fans left right and centre.  Sadly things begun to go a bit pear shaped, as personal problems and a few dud albums left quite a lot of people scratching their heads wondering what had happened to the Finnish maestro’s.  With that in mind latest release Halo of Blood has a lot of pressure on it’s shoulders as it seeks to prove that Alexi Lahio and co still have it.

If there is one thing that has been clear through Bodom’s entire career it is that in Alexi Laiho they have one of the best metal guitarists in the world at this point in time and it doesn’t take long for Halo of Blood to remind you of that fact.  From the opening of “Waste of Skin” right through to the close of “One Bottle And a Knee Deep” Laiho sound’s like he is on top form.  Very few people play guitar in this style with that classic widdly guitar solo sound and still manage to have it chock full of enough melody and hand banging goodness to keep you going until next Christmas.  Tracks like the opener “Waste of Skin” and “Bodom Blue Moon” have enough melody and bounce that they will catch the ear of anyone listening.  While it’s also a testament to his playing that it never falls into pastiche of itself and although there are obvious power metal influences it never feels quite as ridiculous as it probably should.

C.O.B. do occasionally mix things up on this album particularly on the ominous drawling “Dead Man’s Hand On You” is a dramatic fist pumping track that is constantly underlined by a very ominous air.  It’s nice to have something a bit different but there’s no denying that Laiho does sound a bit ridiculous when he comes in with his gravely Cash inspired talking vocals.  It’s also probably the moment this album sounds most like it’s power metal influences as it can’t help bringing to mind the likes of Manowar.  “Scream for Silence” is a similar propsition but without quite as dark an  edge as it features a more rock filled melodic start and stays a slow metallic rock tack.  While Laiho growls over the top about “what happens if your still alive”.

Despite all that’s good about this album it doesn’t quite sparkle and shine the way you’d hope it would.  It’s good but it’s great and there are times where it sounds a bit like Alestorm with death metal vocals.  Which is probably not made they were going for.  It’s certainly not the album to reignite the flame underneath the proverbial arse of the Bodom career but if you are a huge C.O.B. fan I can’t imagine it will disappoint.  If you’re not and are wishing to get into them for the first time go backwards first and start from there before working your way forward.  You probably won’t regret that.

Choice Cuts: Halo of Blood, Bodom Blue Moon